Karrubi's Son: The Government Was Supposed to Act on Lifting House Arrest After the Nuclear Agreement

The son of Mehdi Karrubi states that Hassan Rouhani's government had postponed the lifting of house arrest for the leaders of the 2009 presidential election protests until after the nuclear agreement, but so far, no specific news regarding government actions has been heard. Hossein Karrubi, in an interview with the 'Entekhab News' website, which was republished on the Kaleme website close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, said that 'no specific news from our friends in Mr. Rouhani's government' regarding the 'consultation' of the president with 'relevant authorities and high-ranking officials of the system' for lifting the house arrest has been heard. Political figures in the Islamic Republic of Iran refer to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, with titles such as 'high-ranking officials of the system' and 'senior officials of the system.' Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, head of the Leader's Inspection Office, stated that decisions regarding the lifting of house arrest for Zahra Rahnavard, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Mehdi Karrubi fall within the authority of 'high-ranking officials of the system.' These three leaders of the 2009 presidential election protests have been under house arrest since February 2011. Hassan Rouhani, during the 2013 presidential election campaign, promised that if he won, he could create conditions within a year that 'not only those who are under house arrest would be freed, but even those imprisoned due to the events of 2009 would be released.' The Karrubi family has previously accused Rouhani of failing to adhere to his electoral promises regarding lifting the house arrest. Meanwhile, Fatemeh Karrubi, Mehdi Karrubi's wife, criticized the performance of the Ministry of Intelligence regarding the house arrest of the two candidates from the 2009 election in a letter to the Iranian Minister of Intelligence, stating that under Rouhani's government, the 'irresponsibility' of those enforcing the house arrest has increased. Mehdi Karrubi was transferred from three years of 'detention' in a 'safe house' of the Ministry of Intelligence to his home in Jamaran in February 2014. Hossein Karrubi described his father's house arrest situation as 'better' than before, stating that he has the opportunity for 'walking and fresh air' in the yard of the house and is provided with newspapers such as Kayhan and Resalat for reading. According to Hossein Karrubi, Mr. Karrubi meets with his children once a week, and these meetings have been held 'without the presence of agents' for 'some time.' On Friday, August 7, Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi, the Minister of Health in Rouhani's government, performed eye surgery on Mehdi Karrubi for the second time. Hossein Karrubi stated, 'Dr. Hashemi promised that my father would be examined under his supervision to ensure that this eye surgery, like the previous one, is successful.' He emphasized that Mehdi Karrubi's physical condition is 'completely satisfactory' and that a previous issue related to his knee has improved with 'timely physiotherapy actions.' Hossein Karrubi also mentioned that 'rest assured, my father's mental state is now much better than his physical condition.' Mehdi Karrubi had also undergone eye surgery by Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi on Wednesday, May 27. In mid-2013, after a surge in his 'herniated disc' disease, 'knee arthritis,' and 'severe digestive disorders,' he was transferred to Laleh Hospital in Tehran for surgery based on the diagnosis of the Ministry of Intelligence's doctor.